A blue plaque in honour of a pioneering physician was unveiled at the weekend at his former Suffolk home.

Garth Pollard, chair of the Woodbridge and Melton Society, revealed the special memorial plaque to Sir Archibald Garrod at Wilford Lodge in Station Road, Melton on Saturday.

The event was attended by more than 60 people and was hosted by Richard and Sabine Chalmers, the owners of Wilford Lodge.

READ MORE: Sir Archibald Garrod gave funds for Melton playing field

The blue plaque on Wilford Lodge in honour of Sir Archibald GarrodThe blue plaque on Wilford Lodge in honour of Sir Archibald Garrod (Image: Submitted) During his career, Sir Archibald, who was born in 1857, practised medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and made the ground-breaking discovery that some diseases, such as alkaptonuria, were the result of genetic inheritance.

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Alkaptonuria, or black urine disease, is a very rare inherited disorder that prevents the body from fully breaking down two protein building blocks called tyrosine and phenylalanine, resulting in a build-up of acid in the body.

He also left funds which were used to buy Melton playing fields, following his death in 1936.

Sir Archibald Garrod lived at Wilford Lodge in MeltonSir Archibald Garrod lived at Wilford Lodge in Melton (Image: The Wellcome Institute) A spokesperson for the society said: "Richard and Sabine Chalmers, the owners of Wilford Lodge, generously hosted the event, which was attended by about 60 people that included members of the Woodbridge and Melton Society and their guests, as well as family and friends of the Chalmers family."

READ MORE: Suffolk news